ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a request by Native American tribes and environmentalists to stop work on a $10 billion transmission line being built through a remote southeastern Arizona valley that will carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California.
The project — approved in 2015 following a lengthy review — has been touted as the biggest U.S. electricity infrastructure undertaking since the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
Two tribes joined with archaeologists and environmentalists in filing a lawsuit in January, accusing the U.S. Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management of refusing for nearly 15 years to recognize “overwhelming evidence of the cultural significance” of the remote San Pedro Valley to Native American tribes including the Tohono O’odham, Hopi, Zuni and San Carlos Apache Tribe.
The suit was filed after Pattern Energy received approval to transmit electricity generated by its SunZia wind farm in central New Mexico through the San Pedro Valley, east of Tucson.
The lawsuit called the valley “one of the most intact, prehistoric and historical ... landscapes in southern Arizona,” and asked the court to issue restraining orders or permanent injunctions to halt construction.
In denying the motions, Judge Jennifer Zipps said the plaintiffs were years too late in bringing their claims and that the Bureau of Land Management had fulfilled its obligations to identify historic sites and prepare an inventory of cultural resources.
Tohono O'odham Attorney General Howard Shanker argued during a hearing in March that claims by federal land managers that they could not find any evidence of the valley's significance to area tribes was disingenuous at best. He referenced an academic book about the valley published by the University of Arizona Press and the declaration of a tribal member who once served as a cultural resource officer.
The transmission lines will forever transform “a place of beauty, prayer and solitude for generations of O'odham who want to connect with the spirits of their direct ancestors," Shanker said. “So the irreparable harm is clear.”
Government representatives told the judge that the SunZia project is a key renewable energy initiative and that the tribes waited too long to bring their claims. They also argued that tribal representatives accompanied government officials in surveying the area in 2018 to identify and inventory any potential cultural resources.
Pattern Energy lawyers argued that more than 90% of the project had been completed and that there were no inadvertent discoveries of cultural sites in the valley. They told the judge that “through good planning” the sites that were identified have been avoided as crews cleared the ground for roads and pads where the transmission towers will be located.
The judge agreed, saying the record supports the Bureau of Land Management's assertion that the project route avoids direct impacts to cultural resources that were identified by the surveys.
Pattern Energy also argued that stopping work would be catastrophic, with any delay having a cascading effect that would compromise the project and the company's ability to get electricity to customers as promised in 2026.
SunZia expects the transmission line to begin commercial service in 2026, carrying more than 3,500 megawatts of wind power to 3 million people.
The San Pedro Valley represents a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the planned 550-mile (885-kilometer) conduit to carry electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico through Arizona and on to more populated areas in California. The project is among those that will bolster President Joe Biden's agenda for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Work started last year in New Mexico following years of negotiations that resulted in approval from the Bureau of Land Management. The route in New Mexico was modified after the U.S. Defense Department raised concerns about the effects of high-voltage lines on radar systems and military training operations.
In Arizona, work was halted briefly in November amid pleas by tribes to review environmental approvals for the San Pedro Valley. Construction resumed weeks later in what Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon M. Jose characterized as "a punch to the gut.”
During the March hearing, lawyers accused the federal government of stringing the tribes along with insinuations that more work would be done to survey the valley.
The transmission line also is being challenged before the Arizona Court of Appeals. The court is being asked to consider whether state regulatory officials there properly considered the benefits and consequences of the project.
FILE - Dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, center, break ground on the new SunZia transmission line project, Sept. 1, 2023, in Corona, N.M. A federal judge on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, rejected a request by Native American tribes and environmentalists to stop work on the $10 billion transmission line being built through a remote southeastern Arizona valley that will carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. (Jon Austria/The Albuquerque Journal via AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Christopher Morel hit a two-run homer off Edwin Díaz to snap a ninth-inning tie and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 3-1 on Monday night after being held hitless by Luis Severino into the eighth.
“It was just really cool to just see us like, stay in it,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Just an all-around good team performance. Sometimes you've got to win games like that.”
Swanson singled off Severino with nobody out in the eighth for Chicago's first hit, putting runners at first and second following a leadoff walk to Michael Busch.
With runners at the corners and one out, pinch-hitter Nick Madrigal hit a broken-bat grounder to third baseman Joey Wendle, who had just entered for defense. Wendle easily could have thrown out Busch at the plate, cutting off the tying run. Instead, the veteran infielder made an ill-advised decision to try for an inning-ending double play. Madrigal beat the relay to first and the Cubs evened it 1-all.
“Initially thought the ball was hit a little bit harder than it was. By that point, I had already set my feet and kind of committed to trying to turn a double play," Wendle said. "That’s the decision I made, and unfortunately the wrong one.”
Brandon Nimmo hit his 13th career leadoff homer for the Mets, but Jameson Taillon shut them down after that in a fast-moving pitchers' duel that zipped by at a breakneck pace.
“I was feeling good, even in the bullpen,” Severino said.
Taillon allowed four hits in 7 1/3 innings, throwing 57 of his 78 pitches for strikes.
Mark Leiter Jr. (1-1) got two outs for the win, and Héctor Neris worked around two walks in the ninth for his fourth save. With two runners aboard, he struck out pinch-hitters DJ Stewart and Brett Baty to end a game that took just 2 hours, 5 minutes.
“It was fun going back and forth there,” Taillon said. “Quick innings.”
Mike Tauchman doubled off Díaz (0-1) with one out in the ninth. One out later, Morel drove a 3-1 fastball to left-center for his fourth home run.
“I'm always ready for the fastball,” Morel said through a translator. “It was a huge satisfaction, huge relief. Especially being able to do it in front of my teammates, being able to do it in front of my family. It was just an incredible moment."
An excited Morel pointed toward his cheering section in the stands. With family in the Bronx, he said he had more than 40 friends and family members at the game.
“I feel like he loves the moment,” Taillon said, “the bright lights.”
A two-out walk to Ian Happ in the fourth was Chicago's only baserunner until Severino plunked Tauchman with a pitch leading off the seventh.
“He was so good,” Swanson said. “Especially throwing hard, but like, somehow his ball had like, even extra life than just the velocity.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (left hamstring strain) is expected to throw about 60-65 pitches Wednesday in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa. It's possible he could rejoin Chicago's rotation after that, manager Craig Counsell said. Steele has been on the injured list since leaving his opening-day start March 28. ... RHP Kyle Hendricks (lower back strain) is trending toward a rehab start later this week, Counsell said.
Mets: RHP Kodai Senga (right shoulder capsule strain) faced hitters for the first time since getting hurt in February. He threw 21 pitches of live batting practice against minor leaguers at Citi Field. ... LHP David Peterson (left hip surgery) is slated to throw about 45 pitches over three or four innings Friday in his second rehab start for Class A St. Lucie. Peterson struck out five in two perfect innings Sunday at St. Lucie. ... Wendle returned from a one-day absence due to a stomach bug. ... RF Starling Marte is expected back from the bereavement list Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Cubs RHP Javier Assad (2-0, 2.00 ERA) starts Tuesday night against LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 3.33) in the second game of the four-game series.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil runs to first base for a single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Chicago Cubs' Jameson Taillon pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Luis Severino pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Luis Severino pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, right, throws to first base after forcing out Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. Cubs' Matt Mervis was safe at first base on the play. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Chicago Cubs' Nick Madrigal grounds into a force out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. Cubs' Michael Busch scored on the play. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino gestures to fans as he leaves during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel (5) celebrates with teammates after he and Mike Tauchman (40) scored on a two-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets catcher Tomás Nido reacts as Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel (5) stands at home plate after hitting a two-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
